Chapter 23: Partners

Lingling glanced at the cat pelts and immediately understood what kind of monster it was. She analyzed the situation thoroughly:

«These night cats mostly live in dark places like forests and grasslands. The fish this shop owner raises are not ordinary fish but a type called Mingfei fish. These fish are highly nutritious for humans and can enhance resistance to viruses over long-term consumption. They are also delicious and in high demand in many restaurants. For cats, who love fish, these fish are extremely tempting. Moreover, most monsters can dig holes, but they usually choose not to.»

«Your performance was mediocre, but barely acceptable. From now on, you will hunt monsters with me.»

Lingling had initially thought that Qin Chen was just a beginner mage but was surprised to find out he was a mid-level mage. Moreover, he was not just any mage with magical prowess but one with significant combat strength. This was evident from the two pelts, which belonged to two warrior-level night cats. To kill two warrior-level black cats and over a dozen servant-level black cats without getting injured in such a short time, she now trusted her grandfather's judgment.

«Alright, from now on, please take care of me, Master Lingling!»

Seeing Lingling's little adult demeanor, Qin Chen found her very cute and couldn't resist pinching her cheek.

«Qin Chen, do you believe I won't take you monster hunting next time?»

Seeing her cheek under attack, Lingling immediately shook off the offending hand, threatening Qin Chen with a fierce but cute expression.

«I don't believe you. Now I am your partner, and you're still a child. Without me, Old Bao wouldn't let you go out alone.» Qin Chen was not easy to deal with and had already grasped Lingling tightly with one move.

«Ah!!! I regret it now! As soon as I return, I will tell Grandpa that I don't want to partner with you anymore!»

Lingling stomped her feet in anger. She had thought she found a good partner, but the situation had changed so quickly!

«You should save your breath. Drinking more milk can calm your restless heart. Now that the task is completed, let's go back.» With that, Qin Chen bent down, scooped the fuming Lingling into his arms, and carried her into the villa.

«Qin Chen, what are you doing? Let me go, or I'll shout for help!» Lingling, after all, was still a little girl and was scared by Qin Chen's sudden action.

«What's a little girl thinking about? You only know how to stay up all night. Hurry back to your room and rest. If you're not asleep in ten minutes, I think you'd better sleep in my arms!» Qin Chen placed Lingling on the bed and kindly threatened her.

«You—» Lingling was so angry at Qin Chen's shameless behavior that she couldn't speak.

«What do you mean by 'you'? Do you think my embrace is warmer? Do you want me to lull you to sleep?»

Seeing Lingling's pouty face, Qin Chen sat on the bed, smiling at her with a look that suggested he was ready to cuddle her all night.

«Get out quickly, I want to sleep.» Lingling, furious, said. She had been smart her whole life but was defeated by this rascal.

«Good girl, I'll check on you in half an hour. Sleep well.» Satisfied with Lingling's defeated look, Qin Chen left the room.

What Qin Chen didn't know was that from a place neither he nor Lingling could see, Old Bao had been watching them. As Lingling's grandfather, Old Bao was very responsible and wouldn't entrust his granddaughter to a hunter they had just met. It was safer to watch over her himself. If Old Bao's temper wasn't so well-controlled, he would have slapped Qin Chen!

«This guy's character isn't great, but it's passable.»

«Who would have thought he has such talent at a young age? A natural dual-element mage, and with four elements at mid-level. He even inherited the Vermilion Bird's legacy. He's a promising talent!»

Although Old Bao hadn't seen the battle himself, with his cultivation, he could easily sense the magical fluctuations and determine what magic Qin Chen used, making it easy to judge.

Fortunately, Qin Chen didn't know he was being watched; otherwise, he would have been creeped out!

In the morning, the first rays of sunlight spread across the earth, dispelling the night's cold and bringing warmth to the world. The enchanting sunrise gently rose, illuminating the gentle grassy field, making the grass look more vibrant. The fish in the pool leaped to welcome the start of a new day.

In the backyard garden, within a three-meter radius, the grass was pressed five centimeters lower. A silver, diamond-shaped barrier surrounded the area. This was the first-level mid-level space magic: Spatial Oscillation — Compression, which Qin Chen had forcefully altered to change the gravity within the space.

Originally a space compression magic that affected all directions, under his control, it now only altered the gravity within the space, increasing it threefold without any spatial pressure. At this moment, Qin Chen was doing push-ups, sit-ups, and practicing wand sword techniques under triple gravity.

He was gripping his wand sword, practicing basic sword techniques like slicing, chopping, hacking, and thrusting, all while resisting the gravity's invasion. The immense gravity put a lot of pressure on his body, causing muscle strains, bleeding, and severe skeletal burdens. The gravity even directly affected his internal organs, which were much more fragile than his external muscles. Under such heavy gravity, his internal organs were already injured and bleeding.

Despite the self-inflicted gravity environment and the severe pain from his injuries, he continued practicing sword techniques and training his body without uttering a single word of complaint.

«Suffer now to rise above others later!»

This was what he had always wanted to do since he could cast mid-level space magic: change the magic rules. For others, this was extremely difficult, especially with the profound space magic. But for him, who had space affinity, it was achievable. He had created a space interval two months ago and had maintained this inhuman training daily for an hour, regardless of weather.

Initially, it was just one-fold gravity. Now, after two months, it had increased to threefold. This was his goal, to increase gravity by one fold each month, forcing himself to grow stronger.

Training under such gravity not only effectively improved his physical strength but also tempered his spirit through the pain of severe injuries, making his willpower firmer and unaffected by external influences.

Of course, such inhuman training was only possible for him because of his life-absorbing ability. If it were an ordinary person, they would be crippled within a week.

(End of Chapter)